Raul Castañeda was an active member of the San Gabriel Valley community. He cherished the outdoors and was passionate about biking, snowboarding, fishing, and running marathons. Raul completed twelve marathons, 9 of which were the LA Marathon. His spirited dedication to active living brought light and joy to all who knew him.
Raul understood the value of building and maintaining relationships. Family and friends saw him as someone who could make friends anywhere he went. Raul volunteered on numerous boards in the SGV, including as treasurer for the Washington Elementary PTA and the Friends of La Laguna. He took the time to get to know people and find common interests with them. He made others feel special and welcomed at work, his gym, his cycling and running groups, and at home with his family and long-time friends.
We are deeply saddened to share the loss of Raul Castañeda, a cherished member of our community, who was tragically taken from us by an incident of traffic violence on July 9th. Raul, 50, was struck in Irwindale by the driver of a stolen SUV during a peaceful evening bicycle ride with friends along the San Gabriel River Trail. Raul was training with his two friends for the 100-mile bike ride from LA to Santa Barbara.
A loving father, son, brother, uncle, and cousin, Raul is survived by his two children, Cristian and Natalia.
Our community profoundly feels this loss, especially as Irwindale remains one of the most challenging environments for cyclists in California. According to the 2021 California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Crash Rankings, it ranks third worst in injuries and fatalities among cities its size. As we mourn, we are reminded of the importance of our mission at ActiveSGV, which is to create safer, healthier streets.
Currently, two opportunities exist to address the unsafe street conditions in Irwindale and, more specifically, address the San Gabriel River Trail crossing at Arrow Highway adjacent to the Santa Fe Dam where Raul was fatally struck.
- Irwindale Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Survey: This survey is part of a comprehensive safety plan to reduce or eliminate traffic-related fatalities and injuries. It targets safety for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists. Get involved by adding comments on the project map, completing the online survey, attending public meetings, or contacting the City Department of Public Works directly.
- SCAG Highways to Boulevards Regional Study Community Survey: This survey seeks input on improving connections in areas divided by transportation infrastructure. Your feedback will aid the Southern California Association of Governments identify potential projects for the Reconnecting Communities grant, envisioning designs that enhance multimodal travel and community connections.
In honor of Raul’s memory, we will host a memorial ride in the coming weeks. This event will celebrate his life and renew our commitment to the cause for which he held great passion. Further details will be shared soon. If you would like to donate to Raul’s family, contributions are welcome on the family’s Everloved page.
